THE GOVERNMENT of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. would not stop the International Criminal Court (ICC) from interviewing officials believed to have aided the state’s deadly drug war, according to the solicitor general.
“[The Philippines] has no legal duty to lend any assistance to the ICC prosecutor in conducting his investigation,” Solicitor-General Menardo I. Guevarra told BusinessWorld in a Viber message. “But the government cannot stop him from proceeding any way he wants.”
Former Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV earlier posted a document in his X account naming the five police officials, including Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa. The lawmaker was ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s national police chief who led his anti-illegal drug campaign from 2016 to 2022.
“He can directly interview persons of interest online, through the phone, by e-mail, or face-to-face, subject to the consent of these persons,” Mr. Guevarra said. “But the ICC prosecutor cannot expect that the Philippine government will facilitate it for him.”
“What’s new? My name has always been mentioned since 2016,” Mr. De la Rosa said last week. “Seems like a broken record that keeps on repeating the same lines.”
Mr. Marcos, Jr. earlier this year ruled out state cooperation in the ICC probe, which he said violates Philippine sovereignty.
In his third State of the Nation Address before Congress on July 22, he affirmed the country’s “functioning judicial system.”
In January 2023, the ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry after it was suspended in November 2021.
The tribunal’s Appeals Chamber in July 2023 also junked the government’s petition against the resumption of the probe.
About 12,000 people died in Mr. Duterte’s drug war, according to Human Rights Watch.
There have only been four known convictions of erring cops in the drug war.
THE HOUSE of Representatives on Tuesday approved on final reading a bill that seeks to legalize medical cannabis.
In a 177-9-9 vote, congressmen agreed to amend the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 by allowing the use of medical marijuana for treatment of patients with cancer, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other ailments.
House Bill No. 10439 will create a medical marijuana regulatory body under the Health department. It will monitor the importation, cultivation, manufacture, storage, distribution, prescription, dispensation and sale of medical cannabis by authorized hospitals, clinics, drugstores accredited dispensaries.
The chamber also approved in a 200-1-0 vote House Bill No. 10424, which will regulate motorcycle taxis for public transportation.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will regulate the operations of motorcycle taxis in areas not covered by digital platforms providing the service, according to the bill. It also allows local governments to create transport route plans for motorcycle taxis. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court (SC) upheld its 2021 decision ruling the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to regulate the health aspect of tobacco products.
The full court, through a decision of Senior Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen, cited the FDA Act (Republic Act No. 9711) which says the FDA has regulatory authority over all products.
The ruling, promulgated on July 23, decided on a motion for reconsideration filed by the Philippine Tobacco Institute, Inc. (PTI) and Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman.
The tribunal said the state’s tobacco inter-agency committee does not have exclusive jurisdiction over tobacco products and the tobacco industry.
“All products affecting health, including tobacco products, are covered by the FDA’s mandate to ensure the safety, efficacy, purity and quality of health products,” the high court said in a statement on Tuesday.
It added that the inclusion of tobacco products in the rules implementing the FDA Act is within the country’s commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Under the rules, the Department of Health through the FDA is responsible for regulating tobacco products.
PTI challenged this provision, saying the inter-agency committee has exclusive jurisdiction over tobacco products, including the health aspects.
It won the lawsuits before a regional trial court. But the high court reversed the decision in 2021, prompting PTI and Mr. Lagman to file a motion for reconsideration.
Mr. Lagman, who also filed a motion for reconsideration as an intervenor, did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.
The tribunal had yet to upload a full copy of the decision on its website. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture on Tuesday said farm damage from the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Super Typhoon Carina had hit P1.17 billion.
In a bulletin, the agency said volume loss was estimated at 18,086 metric tons (MT) covering 42,708 hectares of farmland. About 40,904 farmers and fishermen were affected.
It added that 73.7% or 31,491 hectares were deemed recoverable.
The agency said rice made up 56.5% of the damage worth P660.6 million. Total volume loss reached 10,272 MT.
Damage to the fishery sector reached P360.8 million, affecting about 3,334 fishermen.
Losses for corn were valued at P65.4 million covering 3,104 MT, while high-value crop damage was at 1,951 MT worth P98.4 million.
Damage to livestock reached 5,593 heads worth P1.32 million, while damage to farm infrastructure, machinery and equipment amounted to P1.6 million. — Adrian H. Halili
A HOUSE of Representatives committee on Tuesday approved a bill operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) Board in the Philippines, authorizing it to negotiate with the World Bank and buy assets.
The House committees on climate change and foreign affairs in a joint session approved the measure providing “juridical personality and legal capacity” to the LDF Board, letting it perform its duties.
The measure allows the board to enter into contracts, acquire property, institute legal proceedings and negotiate with the World Bank on matters concerning the fund and perform its mandate.
“The bill specifically provides juridical personality to the fund board that we are hosting in the country,” Bohol Rep. Edgar M. Chatto, House climate change committee chairman, told BusinessWorld in an interview. “It gives the entity all the required elements so they can enter into agreements and contracts.”
The Philippines won the bid to host the LDF in July, which Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said reinforced the country’s dedication to become a leader in shaping international climate policies. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
THE OVERSEAS Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) said it seeks to set up hubs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in other international airports across the Philippines.
Construction of some of these hubs has started, OWWA Administrator Arnaldo A. Ignacio told reporters on Tuesday.
There are two OFW hubs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3 that serve about a thousand OFWs daily, he said.
In a separate statement, OWWA said it plans to set up lounge hubs at Philippine embassies overseas to serve migrant Filipino workers. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
THE McDougall Creek wildfire burns next to houses in the Okanagan community of West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, Aug. 19, 2023. — REUTERS
SAO PAULO — Forests and other land ecosystems failed to curb climate change in 2023 as intense drought in the Amazon rainforest and record wildfires in Canada hampered their natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide, according to a study presented on Monday.
That means a record amount of carbon dioxide entered Earth’s atmosphere last year, further feeding global warming, the researchers said.
Plant life helps to slow climate change by taking in huge amounts of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas driving global warming. Forests and other land ecosystems on average absorb nearly a third of annual emissions from fossil fuels, industry and other human causes.
But in 2023, that carbon sink collapsed, according to study co-author Philippe Ciais of the Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE), a French research organization.
“The sink is a pump, and we are pumping less carbon from the atmosphere into the land,” Mr. Ciais said in an interview. “Suddenly the pump is choking, and it’s pumping less.”
As a result, the growth rate of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere jumped 86% in 2023 compared to 2022, the researchers said.
Scientists at Tsinghua University in China, the University of Exeter in England and LSCE led the research into what caused the shift. Their study was presented at the International Carbon Dioxide Conference in Manaus, Brazil.
A major driver was the record high temperatures globally that dried out vegetation in the Amazon and other rainforests, preventing them from taking up more carbon while also fueling record fires in Canada, the study found.
“Imagine your plants at home: If you don’t water them, they’re not very productive, they don’t grow, they don’t take up carbon,” said Stephen Sitch, a study co-author and carbon expert at the University of Exeter.
“Put that on a big scale like the Amazon forest,” Mr. Sitch told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference
The study is still in the process of peer review with an academic journal, but three scientists who were not involved in the research told Reuters that its conclusions were sound.
They said that dips in land carbon sinks tend to happen in years affected by the El Niño climate phenomenon, like 2023. But the record high temperatures being driven by climate change made last year’s dip particularly extreme.
Also, the consequences of the dip are more severe than in the past because humans are now causing the emission of more carbon dioxide than ever before.
The scientists cautioned that Earth’s carbon sink varies widely year to year, and a single year alone will not spell doom. But it would be alarming if what was observed in 2023 becomes a trend, they added.
“This is a warning,” said Richard Birdsey of Woodwell Climate Research Center in the United States, who was not involved in the study. “There’s a good chance that years like 2023 are going to be more common.”
The less carbon the land ecosystems absorb, the less fossil fuels the world can burn before humankind blows past global climate targets, said Anthony Walker, an ecosystem modeler at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States who was not involved in the study.
“We cannot count on ecosystems to bail us out in the future,” said Trevor Keenan, an ecosystem scientist at University of California, Berkeley who was not involved in the study. — Reuters
TAIWAN’s new president Lai Ching-te waves on stage during the inauguration ceremony outside the Presidential office building in Taipei, Taiwan on May 20, 2024. — REUTERS
TAIPEI— China’s threat to any individual country is a threat to the world, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday, adding that the island will continue to work hard to promote defensive self-reliance and foreign arms purchases.
Taiwan will also work hard to promote regional peace and stability, Mr. Lai told a conference in Taipei aimed at coordinating the policies of democratic governments towards China.
China, which views the democratically governed island as its territory, has been staging regular military exercises for years to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing’s claim of sovereignty, despite Taiwan’s strong objections.
“I’d like to stress that China’s threat to any individual country is a threat to the world,” Mr. Lai told the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) conference in Taipei, a group with ties to an international network of several hundred politicians critical of China.
“Taiwan will do its best to put out a democratic protection umbrella with our democratic partners to keep them away from the threat of authoritarianism.”
IPAC said in a statement that eight lawmakers in at least five countries reported receiving emails and phone calls from Chinese officials prior to their departure for Taiwan.
“IPAC deplores and condemns the PRC’s attempt to interfere in its annual summit,” the group said in a statement, referring to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). “Democratically elected lawmakers are free to visit and support causes of their choosing. This is the normal exercise of their rights and responsibilities as elected officials.” — Reuters
AT A TIME when the opportunities for flexible work continue to shrink, the options for where to work as a digital nomad continue to grow. Just this year popular destinations such as Greece, Italy, Japan and Thailand have added digital nomad programs, in an effort to compete for foreign talent. But which country is the best all around option for remote workers?
A new digital nomad report from global advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions, released on July 25, answers the question by reviewing relocation programs from 65 countries around the world.
The company, which focuses on helping clients identify citizenship and residency by investment programs, evaluated the currently available options by looking at both enacted legislation and expert input. Its data covers five main categories: visa costs (application costs, income requirements), visa benefits (duration, extension possibility, path to citizenship), quality of life (health care, security, pollution, climate), economics (cost of living, tax optimization, coworking desk price), and technology/innovation.
The best place to be a digital nomad, according to the report: Spain. Several factors propelled it to the top, including a new startup law aimed at boosting the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, zero taxation on foreign earned income, affordability, availability of high speed internet and an environment ideal for technology and innovation.
Nine of the top 10 countries are in Europe, including some surprises. Netherlands and Norway, in second and third place and nearly equal in scores, are somewhat expected for their high standard of living and solid healthcare, education and social services — but high living costs are a major challenge, the report finds. Estonia and Romania, however, had an impressive strong showing. They boast a more affordable lifestyle with excellent access to nature and a rich cultural scene. The only non-European destination to make it in the top 10 is Canada, coming in at No. 8. The country announced in 2023 that it was working on a new strategy to attract tech workers.
“The most notable aspect of the report is the dominance of European countries,” said Patricia Casaburi, Chief Executive Officer at Global Citizen Solutions, in an emailed statement. “Additionally, it’s striking that 91% of the 65 active digital nomad programs were launched after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a rapid response to the shift towards remote work.”
Among the other qualities that gave Spain and the Netherlands an edge, besides high quality of life, was the fact that they offer digital nomad visa holders a path to permanent residency that can eventually turn into citizenship. (The report doesn’t reflect the growing pushback on tourists in several parts of Spain, for example, which could create an atmosphere of unease for temporary remote workers.)
But each country has distinct advantages. Estonia and Romania have made significant investments in technology, including top-tier infrastructure for high-speed internet. And like other eastern European countries that ranked in the top 20 — Hungary, Latvia and Czechia — they boast relatively low costs of living when compared to western Europe.
Taiwan came in at No. 12 for the ease of its digital nomad visa system, which lets you stay for as long as three years upon approval, but requires that you work in one of eight specific sectors, including technology, education, finance and law. Japan, which announced its digital nomad program on April 1, came in at No. 16.
“There is now a broader range of opportunities for digital nomads,” said Ms. Casaburi.
High visa costs and required salary levels mean regions such as the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the Caribbean did not rank as high on the index. Ranking last were Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba and Grenada. Overall, Europe accounts for 35% of all digital nomad visas currently on offer, the report shows, while the Americas make up for 38% and Africa just 8%.
According to the report, almost 60% of remote work visas are impartial to nationality or profession. “We have noticed that while most digital nomads are nationals from Global North countries, an increasing number [are] from countries with weaker passports,” said Ms. Casaburi. “These individuals are leveraging digital nomad programs to acquire permanent residency and citizenship in countries with stronger passports, thereby significantly improving their global mobility.” — Bloomberg
The 15 best destinations for remote work:
1. Spain
2. Netherlands
3. Norway
4. Estonia
5. Romania
6. Malta
7. Portugal
8. Canada
9. Hungary
10. France
11. Germany
12. Taiwan
13. Czechia
14. Latvia
15. Malaysia
WASHINGTON — US foes targeting November’s election with influence operations are expected to adapt to presidential contest developments, a US intelligence official said on Monday, in an apparent reference to Joseph R. Biden dropping his reelection bid.
The official said unidentified foreign actors were especially focused on “events that occurred this month regarding the presidential race,” without referring directly to President Biden’s decision to withdraw.
The official’s comments indicated that US intelligence agencies expect foreign actors to refocus their influence operations on Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Mr. Biden endorsed as the Democratic Party standard bearer.
“We expect these actors to adjust to these events and incorporate them into their influence narratives, seeking to undermine democratic institutions,” the official said, without identifying the foreign actors.
Mr. Biden, 81, ended his flagging reelection bid on July 21 under growing pressure from fellow Democrats and tapped Ms. Harris as the party’s candidate to face Republican Donald Trump, reshaping the race for the Nov. 5 presidential election.
Briefing reporters, the official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence cited reports from non-government groups that foreign actors had already used the July 13 attempted assassination of Mr. Trump “as part of their narratives.”
A senior intelligence official said that Tehran and Moscow maintain their same presidential preferences as in past cycles, whereas Iranian operatives are attempting to tear down the Republican ticket while Russia has made efforts to smear the Democrats, according to prior intelligence community assessments.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations denied in an email that Iran engages in any “activities intended to influence the US election” and said that many such accusations are “characterized by psychological operations designed to artificially pep up election campaigns.”
The Russian embassy did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In the past, Russia and Iran have tried employing actual Americans in their operations through false front companies and third-party websites. Doing so provides them with cover and offers a more authentic voice, another official explained.
US foes targeting the US election are also outsourcing influence operations to marketing and communications firms, with Moscow using Russia-based influence-for-hire companies to shape US public opinion.
There are also a variety of similar firms across Latin America and the Middle East, officials said, which may be employed to obfuscate responsibility.
Meanwhile, Chinese government entities are using a China-based technology company to enhance covert influence operations in the United States, the official said. While the Chinese government probably is not planning to influence the U.S. election outcome, it is leveraging social media to sow divisions among Americans, they added.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson said in an email that China does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, has “no intention and will not interfere in the US election” and hopes the United State will not make China an election issue. — Reuters
OVERVIEW of the Trocadero venue, with the Eiffel Tower looming in the background while the Olympic flag is being raised, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. — FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/POOL VIA REUTERS
PARIS — Vivianne Robinson was first bitten by the Olympics bug at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Four decades on, the Santa Monica native is soaking up the sporting extravaganza at her seventh Games, in Paris.
Ms. Robinson, 66, worked two jobs to save up the $10,000 she has spent on tickets to the opening ceremony and three dozen sporting events. When she’s not cheering on competitors from the stands, she can be found on the Champs Elysees, decked out in a patchwork Olympics-themed tracksuit.
Wearing a bucket hat with Eiffel Tower figurines and waving flags from different host countries, the Olympics superfan greets volunteers and tourists, some of whom recognize her from her viral TikTok videos.
“You actually meet more people when you’re dressed like this,” Ms. Robinson told Reuters on the boutique-lined avenue as she posed for selfie requests from fans. “I get to meet the world this way.”
For eight years, Ms. Robinson sold rice grain necklaces by day and bagged groceries by night to fund her Olympic habit. After Los Angeles, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, London and Rio de Janeiro, she wasn’t going to miss Paris.
The costliest event she forked out for in Paris? The opening ceremony, for which she paid $1,600 for a premium seat on a bridge over the River Seine to follow the flamboyant show, the first of its kind to be held outside a stadium.
“It started pouring rain, which is okay, I don’t mind the rain, but the problem was that I didn’t get to see anything. They had only a big television screen. So I paid 1,600 dollars to look at a television. Little bit disappointing,” she said.
To bolster her chances of success in the ticket draw, she used the names of her mother and sister. Now she has tickets to more events that she can follow. But Simone Biles was a must-see.
A huge credit card bill awaits Ms. Robinson upon her return home, she said. But it is a price worth paying.
“You just can’t be in a better place in the world, just to be surrounded by athletes and tourists and monuments and just the fun of the Games,” she said. — Reuters
Women are traditionally called the “light of a home” or ilaw ng tahanan. Beyond being default homemakers, they can brilliantly infuse light in the essence in every living space.
Perhaps this is the reason why women play key roles in the field of interior design. Their creations and concepts have significantly impacted the worlds they move in — both aesthetically and functionality in any sphere.
Watch Episode 2 of Alagang Wilcon on YouTube, which highlights three excellent interior designers.
Meeting the Women of Interior Design
Leave it to a woman to bring unique ideas to the table.
But when you gather dynamic women oozing with new ideas and brimming with energy to try every conceivable concept, you’ve got one dynamo of a design team. Trust them to blend all the essential elements of visual experiences, comfort, functionality and even sustainability into one remarkable masterpiece that are both aesthetically pleasing and downright functional.
In today’s spotlight are three remarkable women who have not only transformed spaces but also set new industry standards — Amina Aranaz-Alunan and the Almario sisters, Ivy and Cynthia Almario.
Amina Arañaz Alunan
Amina Aranaz-Alunan is a notable designer who has carved her niche on the Philippine design industry. With a strong background in fashion and interior design and a keen eye for detail, Amina has a notable career marked by innovation and excellence. Her career highlights include influential roles at Aranaz, a bag and fashion accessory brand, and SoFA Design Institute, where she has left an indelible mark on the industry.
Ivy and Cynthia Almario
Meanwhile, the reputation of dynamic design duo of siblings Ivy and Cynthia Almario has spread far and wide. Their creative sisterhood has cascaded to their collaborative masterpieces. Each design shows a seamless work process that merge individual talents to transform remarkable spaces. Their career journey is dotted by a series of impressive achievements, including the founding of Atelier Almario, a design firm known for its excellent and innovative approach to interior design.
These ladies excel at communicating their design ideas and collaborate closely with architects and contractors to achieve perfect execution. Their reputations are built on their talent, creativity, and drive to set new standards in interior design.
Women as Design Chameleon
If there will be a master class in the art of adaptability and innovation in the world of interior design, Ms. Amina Aranaz-Alunan and the Alamrio sisters, Ivy and Cynthia, would undoubtedly be the lead facilitators.
As featured in Wilcon Depot’s Alagang Wilcon YouTube segment, these lady designers have showcased their remarkable ability to seamlessly transition between diverse styles, always delivering exceptional results that cater to their clients’ unique preferences and needs.
Echoing the sentiments expressed in the article “Women as Design Chameleons,” these design icons share common traits that have propelled them to the forefront of their professions. “Design leaders are really about pushing for your own visions, telling your own stories, creating your own language of design that really talks about you as a person and carving that space in the market.” In this powerful statement, Alunan articulately encapsulates the driving force behind their success, a deeper-rooted commitment to authority and self-expression, which has empowered them to continuously redefine the boundaries of interior design.
As the Alagang Wilcon segment delves into the unique perspective of these design chameleons, a fascinating interplay between invention and adaptability emerges. The Almario sisters, for instance, emphasize the importance of being a collaborative designer, one who is adept at understanding the client’s needs and translating them into visually captivating and functionally harmonious spaces. “So we really are design chameleons. We have mastered the principles of interior design. So we can apply it to what [is] best.”
As these women continue redefining the interior design world, their ability to adapt and innovate remains a testament to their skill and creativity. Rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all approach, they’ve integrated diverse design elements and techniques, crafting personalized solutions that cater to each client’s unique preferences and aspirations, ensuring their creations are not just aesthetically pleasing but also deeply meaningful and functional.
Episode 2 of Featuring Exceptional Women in Design
As part of its ongoing effort to highlight exceptional talent in the industry, Wilcon Depot proudly presents Episode 2 of Alagang Wilcon. The trailblazing women featured in this episode represent diverse styles and specialties, each bringing their unique perspective and creativity to the industry.
Their work exemplifies excellence in design and reflects Wilcon Depot’s values of innovation and sustainability. Through their stories, viewers can gain insight into the artistry, dedication, and vision that drive successful interior design projects.
Watch the Alagang Wilcon Episode 2 on Wilcon Depot’s Youtube channel, @Wilcon TV.
For more information about Wilcon, visit www.wilcon.com.ph or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also subscribe to and connect with them on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For inquiries, you may contact the Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88-945266).
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As featured in Wilcon Depot’s Alagang Wilcon YouTube segment, these lady designers have showcased their remarkable ability to seamlessly transition between diverse styles, always delivering exceptional results that cater to their clients’ unique preferences and needs.